A FORMER village official and a suspected drug pusher were caught in simultaneous raids in Barangay Baliwagan, Balamban, Cebu at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 22.

Operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Branch and Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) seized more than P1 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.

The suspects were identified as former Baliwagan councilor Alfonso Lim Buot and Allan Cabatino Lopez.

Buot yielded a.45 pistol loaded with three bullets. Operatives seized 250 grams of "shabu" worth P1.7 million from Lopez. An improvised shotgun with three bullets was also seized from him. PDEU Chief Alejandro Batobalonos said Lopez did not distributed illegal drugs in Balamban.

Lopez, he said, disposed his supplies to his customers in barangays Calamba, Labangon and Tisa.

The suspect, a resident of Tisa, transferred to Balamban after Cebu City Police Office intensified its campaign against pushers.

In February 2014, Buot allegedly abducted and hurt Steven Lugay Gimena, who allegedly attempted to rape a minor. Gimena filed complaints of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, serious physical injuries and grave threats against Buot before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The prosecutors, however, dismissed the kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges for lack of evidence.